Choose from the list below to find out more about how TCV can help you to establish a Green Gym.
Do you represent a:
- A Public Sector Organisation – such as a Local Authority, NHS organisation or a Charity
- A School
- A Business
- Or are you a volunteer from a local community group or a member of the public
Public Sector Organisations – such as a Local Authority or NHS organisation – and other Charities
You can either commission The Conservation Volunteers to establish a Green Gym, or can take out a Green Gym Licence.
Commissioning The Conservation Volunteers
Most Green Gyms have been established by The Conservation Volunteers, where we employ an officer to coordinate the scheme. The officer would work with your organisation – and other local partners – to devise a programme of environmental activity and to run regular Green Gym sessions according to The Conservation Volunteers’ quality standards (including health and safety). They would recruit participants into the scheme via local health services and through wider promotional activity. Your organisation would also have a role to play, for example, in promoting the Green Gym or providing green spaces for the activities.
Depending upon the target audience, The Conservation Volunteers officer would aim to develop a community group within 2 or 3 years. This is where volunteers take on the long-term running of the programme. It is achieved through training and mentoring local volunteers so that they develop the skills and confidence to organise the scheme independently of The Conservation Volunteers.
The precise way in which Green Gyms are established varies, depending upon the target audience and local priorities. The Conservation Volunteers would, therefore, need to discuss your objectives with you in order to advise you further. The Conservation Volunteers may be able to advise you on sources of funding, and in some cases, we can work with you in developing funding proposals.
For further details about commissioning The Conservation Volunteers to deliver a Green Gym, contact greengym@theconservationvolunteers.org.uk
Green Gym Licence
Because The Conservation Volunteers has received much interest from other groups and organisations who would like to run Green Gym (which is our registered trademark), we have developed a process by which we can license the Green Gym. The Conservation Volunteers provide a package of services, including training, evaluation, a ‘how-to’ manual and consultancy to enable your organisation to establish the Green Gym to the quality standards which we have developed. The Conservation Volunteers may be able to advise third sector organisations and community groups on sources of funding.
For further details about the licence, contact greengym@theconservationvolunteers.org.uk
Schools
The School Green Gym helps children to increase their level of physical activity through practical environmental tasks in school grounds and neighbouring green spaces. A TCV staff member works alongside a member of the school community (teacher, parent or governor) to deliver a weekly, 1 hour Green Gym session throughout term time. The sessions are run as a PE class or as an after school club. School nurses and other health professionals recommend this sort of activity for children, including those who don’t engage with traditional sports.
TCV would employ a member of staff to run a school Green Gym for you. We may be able to advise you on sources of funding, and in some cases, we can work with you in developing funding proposals.
For further details about the School Green Gym, contact greengym@theconservationvolunteers.org.uk
Volunteers from local community groups or members of the public
Volunteers from local community groups or members of the public can set up their own local Green Gym group with support, training and advice from TCV staff (including advice on applying for funds).
In order to run a Green Gym, the key activities are to:
- Run a programme of practical conservation or gardening sessions that are held at least once a week throughout the year.
- Provide active and stimulating gardening or conservation activities, which are pulse-raising and keep peoples interest.
- Establish links with local health services, for example, a local health centre, who could endorse your Green Gym and recommend people to take part.
- Publicise the Green Gym activities, and recruit new members.
- Follow health and safety procedures, including warm-up and cool-down exercises at the beginning and end of each session.
To get started, you need to recruit 4 or 5 local volunteers who would also like to work with you to set up and run a Green Gym community group (along the lines described above). The Conservation Volunteers Officer could then talk your fledgling group through the next steps.
For further details, contact greengym@theconservationvolunteers.org.uk